Superfund Site
The Portland Harbor area along the Lower Willamette River was named a Superfund site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2000. The Superfund study area extends from river mile 1 (between the Multnomah Channel and Columbia River) to river mile 11.8 (near the Broadway Bridge). The majority of the site is a working waterway with a wide variety of industries.

Restoring Natural Resources after Contamination
After a hazardous substance release, response agencies oversee the clean-up of the substance in order to reduce risks to human health and the environment. However, cleanup actions alone may not fully restore injured natural resources or address the public’s lost use of the resources. The trustees are currently identifying potential restoration sites in Portland Harbor and have developed ranking criteria to evaluate a sites ability to address natural resource impacts.

Natural Resource Trustees
Through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process, the Natural Resource Trustees review existing information and conduct studies to identify the extent of impacts (injuries) to natural resources, the best methods for restoring those resources, and the amount of restoration required.

Significant Species
Pacific Lamprey are culturally important to indigenous people throughout their range, and play a vital role in the ecosystem as food for mammals, fish and birds, for nutrient cycling and storage, and as a prey buffer for other species.